My son Owen... Knocked out after a hard day at the pool and the park...

[GeorgieGirl]

My two cents are if the shot were composed as the diagram suggests, those wonderful eyelashes, that in my mind are important to the softness of the shot, would not be apparent at all. So while I hear an argument for straight on, I don't hear what the compelling benefit would be.:blushing:

 

[michael9000000]

This diagram shows what I mean.
You were shooting from an angle 'above' his face (actually to the right of his face since he was lying down.) SO we don't get his face full on.
The picture is bright and doesn't fit with the idea of a child sleeping.
You could have supported the camera on the bed and comfortably shot at 1/30 or 1/15 and with the change in angle and the increased DOF, more of his face would be in focus so that the OOF hair on his forehead wouldn't bother.
Decreasing the brightness (-.43) reduces the impression of a bright room.

<img src="http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/attachments/people-photography/9834-my-son-owen-knocked-out-after-hard-day-pool-park-heads.jpg"/><img src="http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/attachments/people-photography/9833-my-son-owen-knocked-out-after-hard-day-pool-park-img_2031lll.jpg"/>

Um... I see your diagram, but your perception of how this photo was taken is off the mark... It's not a big deal and I'm not looking for an argument. Thanks for the C&C.

Traveler is right. Try being a little less closed minded and you'll start seeing progress. Disagreeing and finding excuses about why your photo is perfect and how everyone's advice is wrong isn't going to get you better photos. I think there is a lot of potential in this photo, you should use the advice given here and try a few different things to see how you can improve. However, if you're content with creating average work, then by all means, have at it. :thumbup:

Show me where I said my photo is perfect... You're putting words in my mouth, and I'm the one that's closed minded? Yawn.

Here's the deal, dude... If you think my photos are average, I'm fine with that. I'm also fine if you want to argue for Traveler's opinion all next week... None of that changes one simple fact... I know exactly where I was and how I was positioned when I took that photo of my son... I was there...

Now I'll tell you the same thing I told Traveler... You're off the mark... It's not a big deal and I'm not looking for an argument. Thanks for the C&C.

 

[dustin0479]

I tend to agree composing the shot a bit more to the left (getting more of his face straight on), increasing the DOF a bit would make a decent improvement. The lump of blanket or pillow in the center of where his left eye woudl be is a bit distracting, smoothing it down or trying to depress it and getting more of his face would have also helped. You could also try taking it down a bit to see if it fits better with the sleeping child theme.

 

[michael9000000]

You could also try taking it down a bit to see if it fits better with the sleeping child theme.

Just curious... Taking down what? The brightness?